Fire Tube and Water Tube Boiler

 

Characteristic	Water Tube Boiler	Fire Tube Boiler
Tube Arrangement	Water-filled tubes in the boiler	Fire tubes contain hot gases
Water Circulation	Circulates water within tubes	Water surrounds the fire tubes
Heating Surface Area	Larger heating surface area	Smaller heating surface area
Efficiency	Higher thermal efficiency	Lower thermal efficiency
Response to Load Changes	Faster response to load changes	Slower response to load changes
Pressure Range	Suitable for high-pressure applications	Typically lower pressure applications
Drum Size	Smaller drum size	Larger drum size
Safety	Safer, as water surrounds the tubes	Lower safety due to hot gases inside
Maintenance	Typically requires more maintenance	Requires less maintenance
Suitable for Plants	Commonly used in large power plants	Typically used in smaller power plants
Overall Space	Requires more space	Requires less space